Transcript for Trial Begins for Pastor Accused of Killing His Two Wives

Now that Pennsylvania preacher charges of murdering his two wives. Jury selection the trial Martha -- begins today and ABC's John -- and has the story. A veteran pastor husband father of 364. Year old Arthur -- was an upstanding member of this rural Pennsylvania community. At least that's Howard appeared like parents adored him in every all the older people here but I knew there was something strange about him tragedy seemed to follow -- his first wife jewel. Dying back in 1999. He told investigators she fell down a flight of stairs -- in 2008. His second wife Betty Jean. Died after a car accident -- claims he crashed after swerving to avoid a -- his wife wasn't wearing his seatbelt and sustained severe head trauma. -- this morning prosecutors are saying this to time we don't work. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- After reexamining the crash scene in 2010. Investigators determined the car was going less than 25 miles per hour -- time of the crash. Too slow to -- Betty -- injuries and they found Betty -- dried blood insurers garage. Indicating she was injured before she got into the car those findings led to first degree murder charges. -- prompted another investigation into the death of his first wife -- to -- Investigators used Crash Test Dummies to simulate falling down basement steps the results. Didn't match up with sure her story we have filed charges. And of course you wouldn't file charges against somebody we simply we -- -- Shermer says he's innocent in both cases in the family. Would like to just be a family and it's been difficult but they do support mr. chairman for Good Morning America John -- and ABC news New York. And -- -- legal analyst Dan Abrams here now -- here those details right there are two wives dead. Hard I think -- Drew Peterson. That's remember the Illinois police Sargent. Who was not investigated for his -- wife's death until his fourth wife Stacy Peterson went missing. Here you have a case where he wasn't really being investigated until something else happened and that was a suicide happened at his office. Of the husband of someone with whom he was allegedly having an affair. They say yeah. That's odd they begin looking into his wife's death. Then the investigation continues then charges are filed and then the investigation. -- previous -- lot of -- -- through at all he still says this is just a coincidence and is Stanley stand out there that's -- -- as it did -- -- -- three children. All supporting him the questions going to be as the evidence comes out in this case as they followed the case do they still. Believe that the look in a lot of these -- you see the family members simply unwilling or unable. To believe that a parent for example could have done we've talked a lot about prosecutors whether or not they decide to go for the death penalty -- they're not. You're not going through the death penalty not that surprising -- you have two different trials here with regard to two different cases so you're talking but certainly the possibility of -- public interest -- -- thanks very much.

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